System and method for performing internal system interface-based communications in management controller

Abstract

Certain aspects direct to systems and methods for performing internal system interface-based communications between Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) stack and management services in management controllers. The system includes a server management device, which has an IPMI stack and at least one management service module. The management service module, when executed, provides a corresponding management service. In operation, the server management device defines an internal system interface, and configures the internal system interface to establish an inter-process communication (IPC) channel between the IPMI stack and the management service using the internal system interface. Thus, an internal communication between the IPMI stack and the management service may be performed through the IPC channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a server management device, comprising a processor and a storage device storing an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) stack, at least one non-IPMI management service module, and computer executable code, wherein each of the at least one non-IPMI management service module, when executed at the processor, is configured to provide a corresponding non-IPMI management service; 
 wherein the computer executable code, when executed at the processor, is configured to:
 define an internal system interface, and configure the internal system interface to establish an inter-process communication (IPC) channel between the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service using the internal system interface; and 
 perform an internal communication between the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service through the IPC channel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the server management device is a baseboard management controller (BMC). 
     
     
       3. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the internal system interface is an IPC socket. 
     
     
       4. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the non-IPMI management service is a service providing at least one out-of-band (OOB) functionality for the server management device. 
     
     
       5. The system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the non-IPMI management service is a web server service, a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) service, a Common Information Model (CIM) service, a Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) service, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       6. The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the computer executable code comprises:
 a configuration module configured to define the internal system interface and configure the internal system interface to establish the IPC channel; and 
 an internal communication module configured to perform the internal communication between the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service through the IPC channel. 
 
     
     
       7. The system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the configuration module is configured to configure the internal system interface to establish IPC channel by referencing the IPC channel with an IPC file, such that the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service. 
     
     
       8. The system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service as a file system, wherein the file system includes a first file location representing the IPMI stack and a second file location representing the management device. 
     
     
       9. A method for performing internal system interface-based communications in a server management device, the method comprising:
 defining, by the server management device, an internal system interface, and configuring the internal system interface to establish an inter-process communication (IPC) channel between an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) stack and at least one non-IPMI management service within the server management device using the internal system interface, wherein the at least one non-IPMI management service is provided by executing at least one non-IPMI management service module in the server management device; and 
 performing, by the server management device, an internal communication between the IPMI stack and the at least one non-IPMI management service through the IPC channel. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the server management device is a baseboard management controller (BMC). 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the internal system interface is an IPC socket. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of the at least one non-IPMI management service is a service providing at least one out-of-band (OOB) functionality for the server management device, and wherein the at least one non-IPMI management service is a web server service, a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) service, a Common Information Model (CIM) service, a Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) service, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the internal system interface is configured to establish IPC channel by referencing the IPC channel with an IPC file, such that the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service. 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service as a file system, wherein the file system includes a first file location representing the IPMI stack and a second file location representing the management device. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) stack, at least one non-IPMI management service module, and computer executable code, wherein the computer executable code, when executed at a processor of a server management device, is configured to:
 define an internal system interface, and configure the internal system interface to establish an inter-process communication (IPC) channel between the IPMI stack and at least one non-IPMI management service within the server management device using the internal system interface, wherein the at least one non-IPMI management service is provided by executing at least one non-IPMI management service module at the processor of the server management device; and 
 perform an internal communication between the IPMI stack and the at least one non-IPMI management service through the IPC channel. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the server management device is a baseboard management controller (BMC), and the internal system interface is an IPC socket. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each of the at least one non-IPMI management service is a service providing at least one out-of-band (OOB) functionality for the server management device, and wherein the at least one non-IPMI management service is a web server service, a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) service, a Common Information Model (CIM) service, a Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) service, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the computer executable code comprises:
 a configuration module configured to define the internal system interface and configure the internal system interface to establish the IPC channel; and 
 an internal communication module configured to perform the internal communication between the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service through the IPC channel. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the configuration module is configured to configure the internal system interface to establish IPC channel by referencing the IPC channel with an IPC file, such that the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the IPC channel is accessible by the IPMI stack and the non-IPMI management service as a file system, wherein the file system includes a first file location representing the IPMI stack and a second file location representing the management device.